\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re paying the most in the NIL space, and honestly, I don\u2019t even know if it\u2019s fair.\u201d Known for her upfront personality, even Dawn Staley could not help but point out the glaring reality once the NCAA championship ended. As the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Staley boasts of a strong yet resilient locker room. But when it comes to NIL deals, even the proud HC\u2019s focus on player development fails to stop the roster from depleting.<\/p>\n
Take MiLaysia Fulwiley, for example. Watching one of the most trusted athletes progress to another locker room is never easy. Especially if it happens to be none other than Kim Mulkey\u2019s. While the HC has always emphasized skill over money prospects, her locker room culture follows a systematic NIL pattern. On the latest episode of the IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson podcast, Dawn Staley revealed that her players sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) concerning each contract to protect their privacy.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Staley opened up about the recruitment process for the first time. While South Carolina has not publicly addressed the distribution of funds, Staley explained in general, \u201cProbably $20 million per school, but that\u2019s football, that\u2019s men\u2019s basketball, and maybe sprinkling women\u2019s basketball and other Olympic sports.\u201d Despite having adequate money to retain athletes<\/a>, Staley argued that the revenue sharing among schools is a challenging ordeal. Especially when it comes to recruitment process.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the difficult part,\u201d Staley said. \u201cThe market says that if you\u2019re a non-contributor and you go into the portal, they can go ask a school like us for $100,000. If I entertain that, they\u2019re going to take it to another school, (saying) \u2018hey South Carolina offered me a hundred grand, you got $150,000?\u201d And boy, is she right! While the HC has no issues paying a higher sum, how much is the deal worth to the athlete? After all, that sum does not guarantee that the player will stay in the system for long.<\/p>\n The head coach exposed the sad reality surrounding the transfer portals, where young athletes are primarily interested in minting money. No wonder the Baylor Bear men\u2019s roster depleted entirely after the March Madness, as athletes transferred to better programs offering lucrative deals. With several recommitments and constant transfers being the new normal, can locker room systems thrive on culture and development anymore? As a new class of recruits joins the schools, things seem more materialistic than passionate for the athletes and the schools alike.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Dawn Staley Pens a heartfelt note for her Gamecocks Athlete<\/p>\n